CAR ACCIDENT: Merced County Freak Car Accident Leaves One Man Dead
August 20, 2010
Merced County – An unidentified male passenger was killed Thursday after an accident that caused him to be ejected out of the car he was driving, the California Highway Patrol reported.
CHP spokesman John Patterson said that the accident occurred around 1:30 p.m. on White Rock Road near Le Grand and just north of Madera County Line. Jesus Jacob Flores, 24, was driving his purple Saturn on the westbound lane of the road at 65 mph.
For still unknown reasons, the car suddenly turned left onto the dirt shoulder, drove through a barbed wire fence, and crashed into a pole. His passenger was partially ejected out of the car while it rolled over several times. It came to a rest on its passenger side.
Patterson said that Flores walked to the Chowchilla Police Department to report what happened but ended up hitching a ride with a passing motorist. He led the CHP to the scene 10 hours after the accident happened. They found the passenger he left already dead.
It is still unknown whether the passenger was killed on impact or if he was even alive when Flores left. The investigators also have a lot of questions surrounding the circumstances of the crash and whether alcohol was involved.
Flores was detained and questioned, but later released. He could face charges.